The Mind Up Curriculum (Achtyl et al., 2011) is evidence based and will equip students with social and emotional skills but it will also contribute to higher academic scores. Presently, the curriculum is packaged for grades Pre-K to Grade 8 but it could easily be adapted to higher education too. The framework of the Mind Up Curriculum (2011) is set up in 4 units, with 15 lessons and could easily fit into any caring classroom environment. Check out the Mind Up Curriculum and you will be very happy with the results!
Self-Advocacy: Teaching students how to be self-advocates is especially important as they transition from grade to grade and school to school. Using information from the 'Learner Profile' inventories from the Alberta Education 'Inclusive Education Planning Tool (IEPT) Library is beneficial in identifying strength based skills and strategies for students. This is an important life skill that they will carry with them as they enter the work force or a post secondary institution.
Stuart Shanker (2012) shares that the Mischel "Marshmallow Experiment" highlighted the discovery that "...one of the major keys to student success is self regulation- the ability to monitor and modify emotions, to focus or shift attention, to control impulses, to tolerate frustrations or delay gratification" (p. v). Watch the following video of a modern day school doing the marshmallow experiment with their own students. This school division is using the Mind Up Curriculum with great success and likes that it equips students with the skills to respond reflectively rather than act impulsively! Further, Moffitt et al. (2011) share that "(T)he need to delay gratification, control impulses, and modulate emotional expression is the earliest and most ubiquitous demand that societies place on their children, and success at many life tasks depends critically on children's mastery of such self-control" (p. 1).
One easy way to start a mindfulness practice is to simply listen to the 19 second clip on the singing bowl and keep your attention entirely on the sound for the duration. If your attention wanders redirect it to the bowl. This can be an mindful exercise for any staff room or classroom- even a math classroom!
Light stone tower at sunset, by Peter Morgan. Retrieved from http://www.freemindfulness.org/gallery
What Can Schools Do?
Diamond's Research for Schools
Activities That Help with Self Regulation
Cultivation of Mindful School Practices
Mind Up Curriculum Explained by Goldie Hawn
What is the Mind Up Curriculum?
The Mind Up Curriculum (Achtyl et al., 2011) is evidence based and will equip students with social and emotional skills but it will also contribute to higher academic scores. Presently, the curriculum is packaged for grades Pre-K to Grade 8 but it could easily be adapted to higher education too. The framework of the Mind Up Curriculum (2011) is set up in 4 units, with 15 lessons and could easily fit into any caring classroom environment. Check out the Mind Up Curriculum and you will be very happy with the results!
Mind Up Music Video
Self-Advocacy: Teaching students how to be self-advocates is especially important as they transition from grade to grade and school to school. Using information from the 'Learner Profile' inventories from the Alberta Education 'Inclusive Education Planning Tool (IEPT) Library is beneficial in identifying strength based skills and strategies for students. This is an important life skill that they will carry with them as they enter the work force or a post secondary institution.
Transition and Self-Advocacy
Alberta Education, Self-advocacy
What do Marshmallows Have to Do With School?
Stuart Shanker (2012) shares that the Mischel "Marshmallow Experiment" highlighted the discovery that "...one of the major keys to student success is self regulation- the ability to monitor and modify emotions, to focus or shift attention, to control impulses, to tolerate frustrations or delay gratification" (p. v). Watch the following video of a modern day school doing the marshmallow experiment with their own students. This school division is using the Mind Up Curriculum with great success and likes that it equips students with the skills to respond reflectively rather than act impulsively! Further, Moffitt et al. (2011) share that "(T)he need to delay gratification, control impulses, and modulate emotional expression is the earliest and most ubiquitous demand that societies place on their children, and success at many life tasks depends critically on children's mastery of such self-control" (p. 1).
The Marshmallow Video
Mindfulness
The Singing Bowl Sound
One easy way to start a mindfulness practice is to simply listen to the 19 second clip on the singing bowl and keep your attention entirely on the sound for the duration. If your attention wanders redirect it to the bowl. This can be an mindful exercise for any staff room or classroom- even a math classroom!
Take a Moment and a Deep Breath with Daniel GolemanMindfulness Introduction by Kabat-Zinn
Applying Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to Treatment: The Practicing Alternatives to Heal Depression Study
Mindfulness to Increase Academic Scores
An Introduction to Mindfulness for Teachers
More Programs that Cross All Domains